Department for Business and Trade

Groceries Code Adjudicator

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have tostrengthen the role of the Groceries Code Adjudicator following the decision not to merge it with the Competition and Markets Authority.

The Earl of Minto: The Government is currently undertaking the third statutory review of the effectiveness of the Groceries Code Adjudicator in enforcing the Groceries Supply Code of Practice, including whether the GCA has sufficient powers. The Government will carefully consider the views and evidence received. Our conclusions will be published and a report laid before Parliament in due course.

Competition and Markets Authority: Finance and Staff

Lord Lee of Trafford: To ask His Majesty's Government what is the annual budget of the Competition and Markets Authority; and how many people it employs.

The Earl of Minto: The CMA resource budget for the 2023/24 financial year is £122m, and as of April 30th 2023 the CMA employed 898 staff.The CMA publishes its Annual Report and Accounts publicly and will publish the accounts for 2022/2023 soon. Previous CMA Annual Reports and Accounts can be found online.

Productivity

Lord Naseby: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to attain agglomeration effects through face-to-face working as part of their strategy to increase productivity.

The Earl of Minto: The Government is supporting innovation and face-to-face collaboration through its work to develop innovation hubs, investment zones and freeports. These initiatives incentivise clustering of related industries, creating localised knowledge networks and knowledge-sharing. In addition we are investing in infrastructure development to improve connectivity and accessibility within and between urban centres, fostering proximity and interaction.

Hong Kong: Elections

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to theWritten Answer byLord Johnson of Lainston on 18 May (HL 7382), whetherLord Johnson of Lainston raised any plans to end democratic elections for district councils with officials in Hong Kong; and whether they have made any assessment of whether any such plansare compliant withChina’s obligations under the Sino–British Joint Declaration.

Lord Offord of Garvel: During his visit, Lord Johnson raised the deterioration of civil and political rights in Hong Kong, along with trade and investment matters.The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is responsible for monitoring compliance with the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, including its application to democratic elections for district councils in Hong Kong. The detail of these issues does not fall within Lord Johnson’s portfolio.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland

Lord Weir of Ballyholme: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Windsor Framework, what percentage of consignments for the red lane entering Northern Ireland will receive physical checks.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: All goods destined for the EU will remain subject to full EU law checks and controls.

Greece: Asylum

Lord Hylton: To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they are making to (1) the governments of (a) Greece, and (b) Turkey, (2) the European Commission, and (3) the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, concerning reports of the (a) expulsion from Lesbos Island on 11 April, and (b) subsequent detention in Turkey, of 12 asylum applicants.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Government has discussed this case with the Greek and Turkish authorities. Greece has rejected allegations that it has acted illegally in protecting its maritime border. I understand that Greece's independent authority for transparency will investigate the reports, following a request from the EU.

UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland

Lord Empey: To ask His Majesty's Government what legislative proposals they intend to introduce to ensure that businesses inNorthern Ireland have free access to the market in Great Britain.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Government is unequivocal in its commitment for unfettered access for Northern Ireland goods to the whole UK market. That means a permanent guarantee of being able to place goods on the UK market in all scenarios - meaning no new forms, checks, controls, tariffs, or any barriers to the market whatsoever, whatever the future form of regulations in Northern Ireland. Those are protections that are enshrined in law in the UK Internal Market Act 2020 and which we will build on further following the Windsor Framework.

UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland

Lord Empey: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of barriers to trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain that would remain following implementation of the Windsor Framework.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Government is unequivocal in its commitment for unfettered access for Northern Ireland goods to the whole UK market. That means a permanent guarantee of being able to place goods on the UK market in all scenarios - meaning no forms, checks, controls, tariffs, or any barriers to the market whatsoever, whatever the future form of regulations in Northern Ireland. Those are protections that are enshrined in law and which we will build on further following the Windsor Framework.

Myanmar: Poverty

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of Burma Campaign UK's briefing of May which estimates that since the military coup in Burma, poverty has doubled to around 50 per cent of the population.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK welcomes Burma Campaign's briefing on the Myanmar Crisis. Myanmar is the Indo-Pacific's most desperate humanitarian crisis, with over 17.6 million people requiring humanitarian assistance, and over 1.6 million displaced. This has been exacerbated due to the impact of Cyclone Mocha. Myanmar is now the 6th highest food insecure country globally. The UK has taken steps to hold the military to account through targeted sanctions, and has also responded to urgent humanitarian needs. Since the coup on 1 February 2021, the UK has provided over £100 million in life saving assistance, emergency healthcare and education for displaced and conflict affected people.

Myanmar: Sanctions

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of Burma Campaign UK's briefing of May which estimates that more than 2 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the military coup and that 21,000 people have been arrested, with 17,000 still detained; and whether they intend to scale up and accelerate the targeted sanctions and the cutting off of sources of revenue, arms and equipment to the military junta and its forces.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK welcomes Burma Campaign's briefing on the Myanmar Crisis. We are very worried about the deteriorating situation in Myanmar. In response, the UK continues to work closely with the US, Canada and the EU to target sanctions on the military's access to revenue, arms and equipment. Since the coup, the UK has issued fifteen rounds of targeted sanctions to put pressure on the military regime without harming the wider population.

UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland

Lord Weir of Ballyholme: To ask His Majesty's Government what progress has been made under the Windsor Framework on arrangements to check mixed groupage consignments of red and green lane goods.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Further guidance on these arrangements will be provided in due course and we will set out the details of new arrangements and their costs as part of our ongoing engagement with stakeholders.

Home Office

Police: Correspondence

Lord Watson of Wyre Forest: To ask His Majesty's Government whatadvice they provide to senior police officers for dealing with parliamentary correspondence in a timely manner.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: The Home Office does not provide guidance to senior police officers for dealing with parliamentary correspondence. That is a matter for Chief Constables themselves, who are operationally independent and PCCs, who provide the most direct line of accountability for local Police Forces.

Metropolitan Police Service's Handling of Non-recent Sexual Offence Investigations Alleged against Persons of Public Prominence Independent Review

Lord Watson of Wyre Forest: To ask His Majesty's Government whenthe Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police last updated the Home Secretary on the implementation of the recommendations contained withinAnIndependent Review of the Metropolitan Police Service’s Handling of Non-Recent Sexual Offence Investigations Alleged Against Persons of Public Prominence, published on 31 October 2016.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: In October 2019, the Home Secretary asked His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to assess the Metropolitan Police Service’s progress in learning lessons and embedding the recommendations from Sir Richard Henriques Independent Review of the Metropolitan Police Service’s Handling of Operation Midland (published in October 2016). HMICFRS published its report in March 2020 and wrote to all Chief Constables to make them aware of their report’s findings and recommendations. In May 2021, at the then Home Secretary’s request, the MPS provided an update on their progress to Sir Richard Henriques – available on Gov.uk Letter from Dame Cressida Dick (MPS) to Sir Richard Henriques (accessible version) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) The Government continues to work with policing partners, including the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, to ensure police handling and investigation of such sensitive matters is both fair and impartial, while also responding to the needs of victims and survivors. We fund the police Vulnerability Knowledge and Practice Programme, which identifies and shares best practice between forces in engaging with vulnerable people and investigating crimes such as child sexual abuse.

Social Workers: Zimbabwe

Lord Oates: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that UK social care providers are selling certificates of sponsorship to social care workers in Zimbabwe.

Lord Murray of Blidworth: The Home Office monitors sponsors through compliance checks to ensure they adhere to the requirements set for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the workers. If anyone has reason to believe that abusive practices may be taking place, they should report this through our formal channels so that the information is placed in the hands of the relevant authorities for assessment and potential investigation. Full details of how to report information to the Home Office are available on our website at: www.gov.uk/report-immigration-crime.

Visas: National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine

Lord Black of Brentwood: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to enable the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine to tour the UK this autumn, particularly in regard to the granting of visas.

Lord Murray of Blidworth: UK Visas and Immigration can confirm that the Visa application centre (VAC) is open in Kyiv along with 242 other global VACs. Visa applications for those intending to visit or work in the UK are currently being processed within 15 days, or should a decision be required quicker, there are priority services available in a number of locations.

Department for Transport

Railways: East of England

Lord Jackson of Peterborough: To ask His Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of the case for upgrading the Ely North rail junction as a means of (1) supporting economic growth, and (2) connectivity, in the East of England.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Economic and transport appraisals of the proposed upgrade to Ely North rail junction have been undertaken as part of the Outline Business Case for the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement Scheme developed by Network Rail.

Motor Vehicles: Disability

Lord Borwick: To ask His Majesty's Government, furtherto the remarks byBaroness Vere of Norbiton on 16 May (HL Deb cols 19GC–29GC) regarding the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023, how many other regulations related to the provision of access for disabled people are in force in London but not elsewhere; and what plans they have to ensure that the regulations for disability access is identical in London and elsewhere.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Transport for London has adopted a proactive approach to improving the accessibility of its transport network, which exceeds legislative requirements. Direct comparisons with accessibility interventions outside London, which may or may not be required by law, are therefore likely to be misleading. To level up accessibility across Great Britain, we have introduced the “REAL” cross-modal disability awareness training syllabus, relaunched the Inclusive Transport Leaders Scheme, and are requiring the provision of audible and visible information onboard local bus and coach services. Disabled people should be able to use transport services easily, confidently and without additional cost wherever they travel. All transport authorities have an important role to play in supporting accessible services which reflect local need.

Airports: Parking

Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown: To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Civil Aviation Authority regarding increases in airport car-parking charges.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Most airports in the UK are managed and operated as private businesses, and parking arrangements are subject to contractual agreements between airport operators and car parking companies covered by consumer laws. The provision and charging of car parking at airports (including drop off and pick charges) is a matter for the airport operator as a commercial business to manage and justify. The Department has made no representations to the Civil Aviation Authority as this is a commercial matter for airports. Any grievance about charges for car parking should be raised with the airport operator directly. However, the Department for Transport expects car parking at airports to be managed appropriately and consumers treated fairly.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown: To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are giving to local authorities to address accidents caused by pot holes.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: In Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland responsibility for maintaining the highway rests with the respective devolved administration. In England, local highway authorities have a duty under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 to maintain the public highway network in their area. In addition to the capital highways maintenance funding provided by Government, the Department works with the highways sector to produce guidance and best practice and encourages good practice in local highways asset management. The Department endorses the UK Roads Leadership Group’s ‘Well Managed Highway Infrastructure: A Code of Practice’. This provides guidance for highway authorities to consider when managing and maintaining the highways infrastructure assets for which they are responsible. In addition, the Government commissioned ‘Potholes: a repair guide’, published by the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT) in March 2019. In the 2022 Autumn Statement, the Chancellor confirmed the three-year settlement announced at Spending Review 2021: approximately £915 million capital funding per year for local highways maintenance for local highway authorities across England outside of London and the mayoral combined authorities who are in receipt of the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS).In addition, at Budget 2023 the Chancellor announced an extra £200 million for highways maintenance for the 2023/24 financial year.

Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: Immunosuppression

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask His Majesty's Government when COVID-19 medicines delivery units are disbanded at the end of June, how they will ensure that (1) immunocompromised people who are in the vulnerable group for COVID-19 treatments, and who have contraindications for antivirals, are able to access Sotrovimab infusion treatment, and (2) such people and their GPs will be informed of any new approach.

Lord Markham: Following the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance on COVID-19 treatments on 29 March 2023, integrated care boards (ICBs) have a statutory duty to make funding available for these treatments within 90 days and to arrange access as part of routine services in the National Health Service. ICBs will therefore need to ensure access arrangements are in place for patients at potential highest risk from COVID-19 to be assessed for, and where indicated, receive a clinically appropriate treatment, which will include consideration of the NICE recommended medicines, nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir, Paxlovid, taken orally, or sotrovimab, Xevudy, administered intravenously. ICBs are also responsible for ensuring potentially eligible individuals and local services such as general practice teams, NHS 111 and hospital specialists are made aware of their local patient pathways for these treatments.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Candidates: Elections

Baroness Scott of Needham Market: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the commitment contained in theNational Disability Strategy, published on 28 July 2021, to "support a new scheme from April 2022 to support those seeking to become candidates and once they have been elected to public office", (1) what support was provided, (2) how that new scheme was promoted, and (3) what was the total number of candidates who received support, to become (a) a parish or town councillor, and (b) a county, district, London Borough, Metropolitan Borough or unitary councillor; and what was the total number of candidates who received support once they were elected as (i) a parish or town councillor, and (ii) a county, district,London Borough, Metropolitan Borough or unitary councillor.

Baroness Scott of Needham Market: To ask His Majesty's Government, further tothe commitment contained in theNational Disability Strategy, published on 28 July 2021, to "support a new scheme from April 2022 to support those seeking to become candidates and once they have been elected to public office", what discussions theyhave had with the National Association of Local Councils on the (1) design, (2) delivery, and (3) evaluation, of the scheme.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: In 2022/23, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) funded the Local Government Association (LGA) to run:a campaign to attract more people with disabilities to stand for council elections;a coaching programme for disabled councillors to support them as resilient and confident leaders of their communities; anda bespoke leadership development programme for disabled councillors. This was created in collaboration with Disability Rights UK.The LGA promoted the disability support work via media articles, social media, the LGA website, bulletins, newsletters, case studies, their own network of regional team networks, and disability charities.35 disabled councillors received support – all were county, district, London Borough, Metropolitan Borough or unitary councillors. 13 people accessed the bespoke leadership development programme. 22 people accessed the coaching offer.The campaign to attract more people to stand for election offered advice and support to encourage disabled members of the public to stand rather than working with specific candidates.This work was one element of a wider sector support programme DLUHC funded the LGA to run: https://www.local.gov.uk/publications/sector-support-offer-2022-23. As the programme is aimed at principal authorities, NALC, who represent the interests of town and parish councils, were not directly involved in the design, delivery and evaluation of the disability support work.Sector support offer 2022-23 (pdf, 213.6KB)

Department for Work and Pensions

Social Security Benefits

Lord Field of Birkenhead: To ask His Majesty's Government what was the average amount paid to individuals for each passported benefit, including (1) funeral payments, and (2) maternity grants.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: There are many passported benefits, for example free prescriptions and free school meals. The information provided relates solely to Funeral Expenses Payments and Sure Start Maternity Grant. Funeral Expenses Payment (FEP) provides help towards the cost of a funeral. To be eligible for FEP, you (or your partner) must get one or more of the following benefits: Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, the disability or severe disability element of Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. You might also be eligible if you’re getting a Support for Mortgage Interest loan. This is in addition to other eligibility criteria which is available here: Get help with funeral costs (Funeral Expenses Payment): Eligibility - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Sure Start Maternity Grant (SSMG) is payment of £500 to provide help with the costs of a new baby (or babies in the event of a multiple birth) if there are no other children under 16 in the claimant’s family. To be eligible for SSMG, you (or your partner) must get one of these benefits: Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or Universal Credit. You may also qualify if you’re getting a Support of Mortgage Interest Loan. This is in addition to other eligibility criteria which is available here: Sure Start Maternity Grant: Eligibility - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). The table below provides information of the average award for both FEP and SSMG. Information on average awards along with other data such as number of awards can be found in Annex 1 of the Annual Social Fund Reports which can be found here: Social Fund accounts and reports - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). The 2021/22 Social Fund Report is due to be published in the near future and thus the data below goes up to 2020/21.  Table 1: Average award for Funeral Expenses Payments and Sure Start Maternity Grant  £2020/212019/202018/19FEP508508508SSMG1,8381,5611,517 Notes:Data is for England and Wales.For SSMG and FEP, the average award value is calculated by dividing gross expenditure by the number of awards.The average SSMG award is higher than the award value of £500 to reflect the additional award made for multiple births.SSMG devolved to Scotland on 10 December 2018. From this date, SSMG is only awarded in England and Wales. Therefore, the figures report on Great Britain up to 10 December 2018, and on England and Wales from that date onwards.Due to missing data for 2019 to 2020, the SSMG average award figure has been estimated using a historical average. From this, the number of awards has been calculated by dividing gross expenditure by this average award.

Social Security Benefits

Lord Field of Birkenhead: To ask His Majesty's Government what was the average amountpaid to individuals for each passported benefit, including cold weather payments.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: There are many passported benefits, for example free prescriptions and free school meals. The information provided relates solely to Cold Weather Payments. You may get Cold Weather Payments if you’re getting Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit or Support for Mortgage Interest. Additional information on further eligibility requirements can be found here: Cold Weather Payment: Eligibility - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).  A Cold Weather Payment (CWP) award of £25 is made to eligible recipients for each qualifying period of cold weather to provide help with additional costs of heating during periods of severely cold weather. The average Cold Weather Payment award is therefore £25. Qualifying individuals may receive more than one payment during each CWP season.

Elections: Candidates

Baroness Scott of Needham Market: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the steps taken to deliver the commitment contained in the National Disability Strategy, published on 28 July 2021, to see "more disabled people becoming elected representatives".

Viscount Younger of Leckie: In January 2022, the High Court declared that the National Disability Strategy was unlawful because the UK Disability Survey, which informed it, was held to be a voluntary consultation that failed to comply with the legal requirements on public consultations. We are disappointed by, and strongly disagree with, the High Court’s finding, and the Secretary of State has been granted permission to appeal the Court's declaration. In order to ensure compliance with the Court’s declaration, we are obliged to pause a limited number of policies which are referred to in the Strategy or are directly connected with it. The policy ‘Cabinet Office will consider how we can best support those standing for public office and those who hold public office’ was one of the policies we were obliged to pause.

Women and Equalities

Equal Pay: Gender

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what was the average gender pay gap for each of the past five years.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: Since 1997 the Office for National Statistics has published data on the national gender pay gap annually. Their latest release can be accessed here:https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/bulletins/genderpaygapintheuk/2022#measuring-the-data The headline measure of the median gap for all employees stood at 14.9% in 2022, down from 17.8% in 2018. The median national gender pay gap for each of the past five years was: YearMedian gender pay gap for all employees (%)201817.8201917.4202014.9202115.1202214.9

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Renewable Energy

Lord Naseby: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to speed up the provision of connections to the electrical grid and the issuing of permits for renewable energy developments.

Lord Callanan: The Government is working with Ofgem and network companies to release network capacity and improve the connections process, which will reduce connection timescales. The Government will publish a connections action plan in the summer. The Government has demonstrated commitment to ensuring a better, faster, greener, fairer, and more resilient Nationally Significant Infrastructure planning process by publishing an Action Plan for reform in February 2023. The Government is now implementing these reforms, including publishing five revised energy National Policy Statements in March 2023, which are currently out for consultation until 23rd June.

Solar Power: Manufacturing Industries

Lord Naseby: To ask His Majesty's Government how they intend to incentivise manufacturers to build solar panels in the United Kingdom.

Lord Callanan: The Solar Taskforce, launched on 25 May, will identify and take forward the actions needed to develop resilient, sustainable and innovative supply chains, to support the significant increases in deployment of solar panels needed to meet the UK’s net zero and energy security goals. The Government encourages large scale developers accessing its flagship Contracts for Difference scheme to grow the supply chain through the Supply Chain Plan process. The Government supports supply chain innovation through a range of schemes, such as the Energy Entrepreneurs Fund, and initiatives funded by UK Research and Innovation.

Renewable Energy

Lord Naseby: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce the cost to contractors of retrainingfor the switch from oil and gas to renewable energy production.

Lord Callanan: Through the Offshore Wind Sector Deal, the Offshore Wind Industry Council committed to making it easier for workers to move between offshore renewables and the oil and gas sector and is exploring the development of an Energy Skills Passport.Industry, led by the Energy and Utility Skills Partnership and Engineering Construction Industry Training Board, will explore potential skills passport arrangements for the power and networks sectors under the work of the Green Jobs Delivery group.The Wind Energy Access Portal sets out clear information on training requirements to access work in the offshore wind industry.

Ministry of Justice

Human Rights: Northern Ireland

Baroness Hoey: To ask His Majesty's Government why they advised the United Nations 4th Universal Periodic Review of the UK that due to the lack of an Executive in Northern Ireland it was not possible to provide as comprehensive a response for Northern Ireland as for other parts of the UK; and why was the Northern Ireland Office not able to seek out the information required.

Lord Bellamy: The Universal Periodic Review can raise any human rights issue, in both reserved and devolved areas.On reserved areas, the Northern Ireland Office was able to provide responses to recommendations, for example those concerning the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill, based on policy positions and ongoing activity. However, for devolved areas it would be for the Northern Ireland Executive to provide a policy position, for instance in response to recommendations concerning equality legislation, employment policy for disabled people and the labour inspection regime. As no Executive was formed after the elections in 2022, and in the absence of Ministers, officials from the Northern Ireland departments were unable to provide the necessary response where Ministerial decisions or clearances are required.The UK Government worked closely with the Devolved Governments to ensure that our Universal Periodic Review dialogue captured the range of action that had been and was being taken on a wide variety of human rights issues across the UK.

Treasury

Cryptocurrencies: Cash Dispensing

Lord Naseby: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure all illegal crypto ATMs are removed from retailers.

Baroness Penn: Cryptoasset exchange providers, which includes Crypto ATM operators, in the UK must be registered with the FCA and comply with the UK Money Laundering Regulations (MLRs). None of the cryptoasset firms registered with the FCA have been approved to offer crypto ATM services, meaning that any of them operating in the UK are doing so illegally. The FCA has previously warned operators of crypto ATMs in the UK to shut their machines down or face enforcement action. Additionally, the FCA publishes a list of cryptoasset businesses that it suspects are operating without registration to help firms and customers make sure they only deal with registered firms. The FCA works with the National Economic Crime Centre to plan and coordinate action with law enforcement partners in relation to operators of illegal crypto ATMs. Recently it has used its powers to inspect sites in Exeter, Nottingham and Sheffield suspected of hosting illegally operated crypto ATMs. This action follows the FCA’s inspection of several sites in East London and Leeds that were suspected of hosting unregistered crypto ATMs and is part of a continued crackdown on this illicit sector. The FCA contact centre is the point of contact for people wishing to report Crypto ATMs. Contact details can be found on the FCA website in the ‘Contact Us’ section.

Department for Education

Schools: Blasphemy

Lord Godson: To ask His Majesty's Government whether the new blasphemy guidance being developed by the Home Office and the Department for Education will be legally binding upon schools; how they are planning to make schools aware of their new responsibilities under that guidance; and how that guidance will be enforced.

Baroness Barran: In response to recent incidents, the Government has been clear that there is no blasphemy law in Great Britain. The Department has no plans to produce specific guidance on blasphemy for schools.Head teachers are best placed to make the decisions on how to meet the needs of their pupils. In doing so, there are a range of considerations, supported by existing departmental guidance. This includes ensuring political impartiality and promoting respect and tolerance between people of different faiths and beliefs.